'Lingerie thief' blames game influence

Shadowrun player denied robbery

Online reports today reveal the strange case of a Belfast man who claims he believed he was an elf when he held a female shop assistant at knife point in a robbery at a lingerie shop. Belfast Crown Court today heard that 45 year-old Robert Boyd held up the Orchid Shop in Belfast, while disguised in a wig, hat and glasses.

He told the court that he was under the influence of a computer game at the time, believing he was an elf named Beho, his character in the game. Boyd denies robbery, instead telling the court he had blurred fantasy and reality. He added that he believed it possible Beho had wanted to rob the shop, but that he couldn't remember his actions during the crime.

The defendant had been playing Shadowrun with friends prior to the robbery, stating that in the game - set in the future - characters were criminals, also revealing that his avatar was a shamen, who wielded a Japanese samurai sword.

"I can't believe that I personally did that... and I deeply regret that," he told the court. "If I had sought some help I would've avoided that in it's entirety." Boyd regularly sees a psychiatrist. The prosecution allege he knew what he was doing at the time of the crime, in which two sets of bras, knickers, suspender belts and stockings were taken. The case continues, the lab technician denying one count of robbery.

By Luke Guttridge